Description of Practice

I firmly believe that almost any dispute can be successfully mediated and that mediation should always be the first method used in attempting to resolve problems.

There are always at least two sides of every story, and that a dispute compromised in a manner that is mutually agreeable to the parties is always better than a Court or jury verdict which may please no one. I persevere and persist, and have a record or successfully resolving cases that the parties involved and their counsel firmly believed could not be resolved.

Professional Background

An experienced litigator and general practitioner with over 35 years of practice representing individuals and small businesses in all fields of law. A seasoned mediator and arbitrator for over 25 years, serving on the National Panel of the American Arbitration Association, the Better Business Bureau, the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Dispute Resolutions Association, a member of The Distinguished Neutrals of Southern California panel. I am a professional member of the Southern California Mediation Association.

Experience

I started as a mediator in neighborhood and landlord-tenant disputes over 25 years ago. Since then, I have mediated hundreds of cases as a private mediator and a member of the Los Angeles County Superior Court panel of DRS Certified Mediators. I have been on the Court's party-pay panel, based on my experience, since its inception. I have mediated all types of cases, ranging from personal injury disputes to contract and other business disputes, banking and financial institution disputes, real estate and defective construction cases, partnership and family disputes, fraud, attorney-client and doctor-patient matters, and have a very high rate of success.

Degrees

Approach

I believe that the best way to resolve cases is to assist parties in their ability to understand the views, motivations and needs of the other parties. To that end I hold joint sessions for as long as possible, to encourage understanding of the other side's point of view. I then assist each party in assessing his or her likelihood of success in the event the dispute is not resolved by mediation, based upon my long experience as a litigator. Once that is done, I solicit each party's demand for resolution and advocate for that with the othe side. If asked, I freely advise parties as to my opinion of the value of a case and of the best negotiating strategy to be utilized in attempting to get it resolved. I try to make sure that I understand where each party is coming from and what their needs are. I remind the parties of the costs, risks and uncertainty of not resolving the matter through mediation and of the benefits to be obtained in designing and achieving a mutually acceptable resolution

Fees

My basic standard fee is $375 per hour, with a three hour minimum. Flat fees and daily rates are available.